Marriage For One

It was then, right at that moment, that I decided I wasn’t going to tell her anything, because I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her, not when I could see she was starting to fall for me as I was starting to fall for her too. I’d happily hide the truth and feel no regret if it meant I got to make her happy and keep her in my life.

A few people who were occupying the table in front of her small library trickled out of the coffee shop, walking around me to do so and I came unstuck. The second the bell on top of the door chimed, her head turned just so slightly, and her eyes came to me. I smiled at her, and her smile turned into a big grin. Then she noticed the flowers in my arms. Gently, she slid down the stool and came around the counter, meeting me halfway. Even though I’d dropped her off just a few hours earlier, I could hardly take my eyes off of her. I didn’t think I was ever gonna get enough of that smile.

We were only inches apart when she stopped and whispered uncertainly. “Is it okay to kiss you?”

I lost my smile and frowned down at her. “What kind of question is that?”

“We haven’t kissed in public since we decided to be…” She moved her hands back and forth between us. “This.”

I held the back of her head and bent down to whisper into her ear. “How about we try it and see what happens.” When our eyes met, hers were smiling at me. Finally, she tipped her head back, her lips met mine, and she opened her mouth to me. A few seconds into the kiss, right when it was getting better, we had to stop when a new group of customers walked in.

“There,” I said, my voice hoarse.

“There,” she echoed, her own voice husky. She grinned up at me and pulled me to the side as Sally took care of the newcomers. “The roses are for me, I assume?” she asked, bouncing on her feet a little.

Finally I remembered the damn things and handed them to her. She took them from me with a gentleness that broke my heart. The first time I’d brought her flowers on the opening day, she had done the same thing with an expression that read like she couldn’t believe all of them were hers. It both pissed me off and broke my heart. I’d buy her flowers every day if it meant that look would disappear from her face in time.

Closing her eyes, she smelled a white rose. “Can this be your Monday thing? If you’re gonna buy them every Monday, that is. I mean, if you do, can you be the one who brings them over? Instead of the florist?”

“If that’s what you want, I can do that, Rose,” I said softly.

She nodded slowly; I knew she didn’t like to jostle her head too much.

“Can you wait for a second? I’ll leave these in the kitchen and come right back. Wait, all right?”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

She rushed away at a slower pace than her usual and came back out a moment later.

“Just put them in some water. Also, they delivered the wreaths this morning. Garlands and other stuff for the front door to replace the roses will be delivered tomorrow.”

I looked at the windows but didn’t see anything hanging.

“I didn’t put them up yet,” she clarified.

I focused on her. “And you’re not gonna put them up.”

She laughed. “No, I won’t. I know. I meant I didn’t let Owen put them up. I thought maybe you and I could…”

I couldn’t help it—I leaned down and kissed her again. “Yes. You and I. It’s always you and I from now on.”

To my surprise, she rose up on her toes and hugged me. Carefully, I wrapped my hands around her waist and plastered her to my body, holding tight. Her hair smelled of pears, it was her new shampoo, and I found myself closing my eyes and breathing in her scent. Too soon, she let go and dropped back down to her heels.

“What was that for?”

She ran her hands down my chest, adjusting my tie as she shrugged. “Just because. And I feel fine. You don’t have to take me back to the apartment just yet. Sally and Owen are doing all the real work.”

“That’s not why I came,” I lied. I had come to check up on her and see if she wanted to go back home. Just in case she wanted to leave or wasn’t feeling okay, I wanted to be the one who took care of her, not Raymond.

“Oh?”

“I wanted to have lunch with you, but if you’re busy—”

Her eyebrows rose and her smile widened. “No, not busy at all. It can be like a date—our first date.”